Rice Counseling Center Staff

Timothy
K. Baumgartner, Ph.D.DirectorLicensed Psychologist

Dr.
Timothy Baumgartner is a licensed psychologist who has been providing
counseling services for over 40 years. He joined the Rice Counseling Center in
2005. He earned a Ph.D. in Counseling and Educational Psychology from the
University of Mississippi. Dr. Baumgartner holds a Certificate of Proficiency in the Treatment of Alcohol and Other Psychoactive Substance Use Disorders awarded by
the American Psychological Association Practice Organization College of
Professional Psychology and he is listed in the National Register of Health
Service Psychologists. For many years prior to Rice, Dr. Baumgartner worked in
his private practice here in the Houston area. He has also provided inpatient
services and directed clinical programs at Baywood Hospital and Raleigh Hills
Hospital, and later served as a clinical administrator for Comprehensive
Psychiatric Programs of America developing and implementing programs in
hospitals in Texas, Colorado, and Arkansas. He was an instructor at the
University of Houston’s Center for Addiction Studies. Dr. Baumgartner is also a
trained mediator and Challenge/Ropes Course facilitator. Dr. Baumgartner enjoys
spending time with his family, getting away to the Hill Country, fly-fishing,
guitar picking, and cooking - preferably all rolled in together.

Elizabeth Plummer, LCSW, BCD is a Clinical Social Worker and the Associate Director of the Rice Counseling Center. She is a graduate
Southwestern Universitywith a BA in Psychology and Smith College with an MSW in Social Work. Elizabeth is also a
Board Certified Diplomat of Social Work. Elizabeth has been involved in various research
projects studying topics that include confronting sexism and treating suicide. Recently she was a research therapist for the DSM V field trials. Elizabeth has also been
involved in fighting the stigma of mental illness by authoring posts for mental
health and parenting blogs. In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys cooking, spending
time with her family, and volunteering.

Deirdre
Markum, Ph.D.
Clinical Counselor
Licensed Psychologist

Dr.
Deirdre Markum has been with Rice University for 23 years. She is a graduate
of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, with a doctorate in
Clinical Psychology. She completed an American Psychological Association (APA) approved clinical internship and post-doctoral
fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine. In her academic career she has
achieved the distinction of making the Dean’s List at the University of
Rochester and being listed in Who’s Who Among American University and
College Students. She is a member of the Houston Psychological Association
and she has previously worked in private practice and as a consultant to
school districts, law enforcement, community agencies and child protective
services. She is an Associate at Will Rice College, and enjoys working with
students to develop their self-awareness and emotional growth and wellbeing.
Specialized treatment areas include women's issues, eating disorders, domestic violence, identity issues, and counseling the culturally different. She enjoys listening to jazz, dancing, and raising her family.

Salimah
Khan, Psy.D.
Clinical Counselor
Licensed Psychologist

Dr.
Salimah Khan currently works at Rice University in the Rice University Counseling Center delivering clinical services to a diverse population of undergraduate and graduate students. She has worked at Rice for over fifteen years engaging in multiple roles such as teaching, consulting, and supervising Masters and Doctoral students. Additionally she has held various positions including Director of Outreach, Director of Training, and Assistant Director. She has also worked for an Islamic institution providing training and
clinical services to underrepresented minorities and immigrants in
significant distress and/or experiencing challenges in adjusting to the
United States. She is a generalist utilizing CBT strategies, mindfulness motivational interviewing and collaborative strategies to assist individuals struggling with depression, anxiety, work-life balance and interpersonal difficulties. She has a keen interest in working on women's issues. When Salimah is not working, she volunteers time engaging in social justice advocacy and enjoys the simple things in life with her husband and three young children. She particularly enjoys walks in the park, mediation, reading outside, and appreciating nature.

Kerry
Park has been the Care Coordinator at the Rice Counseling Center since 2010.
Kerry graduated with her Master's degree in Social Work from the University of
Texas at Austin. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Human Relations from St.
Joseph’s College in New York. Kerry completed her social work internships at
Communities in Schools in Austin and at the Houston VA Medical Center. Prior to
joining Rice, Kerry worked at Baylor College of Medicine’s Teen Clinic. In her
role as Care Coordinator for the Rice Counseling Center, Kerry helps students
to find longer term and specialized providers for counseling and psychiatric
services. Kerry feels very fortunate to have the opportunity to assist Rice
students in locating the type of mental health treatment they need. In her
spare time, Kerry enjoys cooking and spending time with her family and friends.

Elaine Frankel, LCSWClinical CounselorLicensed Clinical Social Worker

Elaine Frankel, LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Board Approved Supervisor with the Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners. She has been a Clinical Counselor at Rice University since 2012. Before coming to Rice, Mrs. Frankel worked as a psychotherapist in a private psychiatric practice in Houston. Mrs. Frankel received her Master of Social Work at Hunter College School of Social Work and her Certificate in Adult Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis from Postgraduate Center for Mental Health, both in New York City. Mrs. Frankel has worked in both the private sector as well as in government agencies. She taught social work students and fellows a course in psychodynamic psychotherapy at the Baylor Psychiatric Clinic.

Emily Unverzagt is a Licensed
Clinical Social Worker that joined the Rice Counseling Center in 2014. She is a
graduate of Baylor University with a degree in Psychology and of the University
of Michigan with a MSW in Social Work. Prior to joining Rice, she worked at The
St. Cloud Veterans Health Administration and M.D. Anderson Cancer
Center. Emily has received extensive training in Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy (CBT) from the Beck Institute, OCD Treatment and Motivational
Interviewing. Emily acknowledges that she is a terrible cook, so therefore
enjoys eating out and trying new restaurants.

Wes Clayton, LCSWClinical CounselorLicensed Clinical Social Worker

Wes
received his BA in psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and began
working on the OCD Program at The Menninger Clinic in 2003. He gained extensive
experience in the treatment of OCD clients and became familiar with Cognitive Behavior
Therapy and Exposure and Response Prevention. In addition, he learned ways to
enhance treatment delivery utilizing approaches such as Mindfulness, Positive
Psychology and Self-Compassion.After working on the
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Program and at the Menninger Clinic for 8 years,
Wes obtained his Social Work Degree in May of 2010 from the University of
Houston, Graduate College of Social Work. He completed his internship at the
Baylor College of Medicine Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic where he had the opportunity
to work with a wide range of adults suffering from a variety ofconcerns, including anxiety disorders,
personality disorders, and addictions. Wes completed his post-graduate Social
Fellowship at the Menninger Clinic on the Hope Program in 2011, where he
continued to gain experience working with a multitude of DSM-IV TR diagnoses,
gaining further training in Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Family Therapy, and
Group Therapy.In September 2011, Wes
began working with the Houston OCD Program and in 2013 Wes worked full-time as
a Social Worker on the Adolescent Treatment Program at the Menninger Clinic
working adolescent clients who struggle with a variety of mental health
diagnoses including Anxiety Disorders. In July, 2016, Wes began working
full-time at the Rice Counseling Center as a clinician working with the Rice
student population.

Natalie Lankford, a licensed clinical social worker, has
been with the RCC since 2014. She obtained her undergraduate degree from the
University of Chicago and her graduate degree from the University of
Texas-Austin. Prior to working in the RCC, Natalie was a therapist at the
Menninger Clinic in an outpatient program for individuals with complex
psychiatric and behavioral issues. Natalie also worked for many years providing
treatment to adolescents and families that were traumatized sexually,
physically, and/or emotionally. Natalie utilizes an eclectic approach to
therapy, relying primarily on cognitive, dialectical behavioral, positive
psychology, and psychodynamic theories. She enjoys spy novels, running,
chocolate, and playing outside with her husband, son, and two dogs.

Lucy PonceDepartment Administrator

Lucy Ponce is the Rice University Department Administrator. She is from Houston and a graduate of HTI. She has been with Rice since 2000. Lucy also worked as a Practice Manger/Nurse in an OB/GYN practice before coming to Rice. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her grandchildren.

Charmaine Forbes St. RoseAdministrative Assistant

Charmaine St. Rose has been an administrative assistant at the Rice Counseling Center for two years. Prior to working at the Counseling Center, Charmaine worked as an administrative assistant for Connections/Open Stax. Charmaine also worked for Klein ISD as a Special Education Assistant teacher and as an administrative assistant at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York. Mrs. St. Rose received her Bachelors in Psychology from the City College of New York. She is married to Marcus St. Rose who works in the IT department at Rice. They have two children together. As a family they enjoy taking family vacations, singing, and making each other laugh. Charmaine enjoys interactive with and helping students.